Homer Bailey Reds
Reds starter Homer Bailey threw the second no-hitter of his career Tuesday night. He's 5-6 with a 3.57 ERA in 17 starts this season. Reuters

Cincinnati Reds starter Homer Bailey tossed the second no-hitter of his career Tuesday night.

In a 3-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants, Bailey totaled 109 pitches with nine strikeouts and one walk in front of the Great American Ball Park home crowd. The 27-year-old was perfect until the seventh inning when he gave up a lead-off walk to Giants centerfielder Gregor Blanco.

First baseman Joey Votto and shortstop Brandon Phillips provided the Reds offense. Votto hit a sacrifice fly in the first that scored Shin-Soo Choo, and Phillips knocked a 362-foot home run to left that scored Votto in the sixth.

From there on the pressure was all on Bailey, who bested a Giants club that is seventh in the majors in team batting average.

In the ninth, Bailey forced Brandon Crawford to hit a groundout straight back to him, struck out Tony Abreu swinging, and got some revenge on Blanco by grounding him out to third for the no-hitter.

Bailey is now 5-6 with a 3.57 ERA in 17 starts this season. The win also helps Cincinnati keep up in the loaded top-half of the NL Central with Pittsburgh and St. Louis. The 48-36 Reds are four games behind the Pirates, and two back from the Cardinals.

Just ten months ago Bailey threw the first no-hitter of his career, and no other pitcher has completed the feat since. Back in September he needed six more pitches against the Pirates, but equaled his total number of strikes with 74. He also had one walk, but less run support in a 1-0 win.

According to USA Today, it was the 15th all-time no hitter for the Reds, but before Bailey the last one for the franchise came in 1988.

The last pitcher to complete that feat was Nolan Ryan in the 1974 and 1975 seasons. In 1973 Ryan also pitched two no-hitters a month apart.

The first video below shows Bailey’s final out against the Giants.

For the fan’s perspective during the ninth inning of last night’s game, checkout this video for the highs and lows associated with each pitch.

Bailey’s no-no against the Pirates last season can be seen in this final video